Bartender&#39;s aid



June 27, 1967 M. A. GARAY BARTENDER'S AID Filed Jul 19, 1965 I N VENTOR. Maw-z 4. 64e4y lrrae/vaf United States Patent 3,327,682 BARTENDER AID Miguel A. Garay, Los Angeles, Calif., assiguor of fifty percent to Phyllis L. Struebing, Pasadena, Calif. Filed July 19, 1965, Ser. No. 477,342 3 Claims. (Cl. 118-16) This invention relates to accessory items and such for use by bartenders and more particularly to a device for helping him coat the rim of cocktail glasses and the like with sugar or salt as the occasion requires.

In brief, a device according to the invention comprises a base portion, preferably of plastic material, having two recessed portions. In the center of one is an upwardly extending spring with a cap provided on its upper end. A quantity of salt or sugar is provided in the ring-like region surrounding the spring for purposes to be described. The other recessed portion is preferably circular and serves as a reservoir for a liquid preferably a citrus juice such as lemon or lime. Most of the liquid is absorbed in a sponge provided in the reservoir, which sponge serves to moisten the rim of the cocktail glass to a depth depended upon the extent to which it is pressed into the sponge. To this moistened rim cling the salt and sugar granules to a depth now determined by the extent to which the cocktail glass is pressed invertedly against the spring and into the corresponding material stored in the ring-like region. The result is a uniform layer coated along the rim of the cocktail glass.

Certain advantages stem from the use of the coating device or machine according to the invention. For one, the bartender or operator is able to work more efficiently; With each initial coating, for example, the rims are fully and properly coated uniformly, repeats of this step being virtually eliminated. Being portable, the bartender may position his coating device or machine at the most convenient location. .Since it is compact and relatively inexpensive to produce, several such coating devices or machines may be used each strategically placed to further reduce his task and up his efficiency. Perhaps most importantly, the use of a device according to the invention helps protect the customer from the hygienic standpoint since not only is the rim coated automatically but the ingredients used in this coating are also protected from foreign particles when not being used by a suitable protective cover.

According to the invention, there is provided a device for applying granular like materials uniformly along the edge or rim of a drinking glass comprising base means including first and second recessed portions, sponge means disposed in the first portion for moistening the edge when the glass is invertedly pressed against the sponge means, and spring means including a cap covering the outer end thereof and attached at the other end to the base means at the center of the second recessed portion. The region within the second recessed portion and extending readily outward from the spring means forms a retainer for the granular like materials and the cap coacts with the bottom of the glass when it is invertedly extended over the spring means to transmit a force to the glass opposing the downward force which is exerted thereon to facilitate and control the depth to which the glass is irnbedded in the materials for uniformly coating the moistened edge.

It is the primary objective and purpose of this invention therefore to provide a device for applying a granular material like sugar or salt over the rim of a tumbler, stem glassware, and the like, for a predetermined distance and in a uniform layer quickly, easily, and yet in the manner hygienically safe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described for uniformly coating salt or sugar 3,327,621 Patented June 27, 1967 along the rim of a cocktail glass premoistened with citrus juices of a preselected type.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described which is inexpensive yet efficient in coating cocktail glasses uniformly with salt or sugar.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specification reference being had to the accompanying dramng. In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention showing a cover partially removed; and

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device of the invention taken along the lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the reference numeral 10 depicts a device according to the invention for facilitating the decoration of salt or sugar on the rim of cocktail glasses for the various drinks as required. The device 10 includes a base 12 having a first recessed portion 14 and a second recessed portion 16 from which there extends a spring 18 having a cap 20 disposed on its upper end.

The base 12 is preferably made of plastic material and may include a ledge 22 upon which edge surfaces 24 of a cover 26 may be supported to exclude undesired foreign particles and objects therefrom.

The first recessed portion 14 may be circular in configuration and includes an absorbent material such as a sponge 28. The portion 14 also serves as a reservoir for a liquid such as, for example, lime juice which saturates the sponge 28. Other citrus juices may be used as desired.

The second recessed portion 16 includes a central portion 30 onto which the spring 18 is supportedly mounted and to which in turn is attached the cap 20. A plastic material is also preferred for the cap 20. Also provided and spread evenly throughout the remaining ring-like portion located outwardly of the central portion 30 is a quantity of granular material such as salt or sugar. A handle 32 as shown in FIGURE 2 in dotted delineation may also be divided to conveniently hold the device 10 stationary or move it when necessary.

Assume for a moment that a cocktail glass 36 as seen in FIGURE 2 is to be coated along its rim 38 with a uniform layer of salt. The glass 36 is first inverted as shown in FIGURE 2 in dotted delineation and its rim 38 pressed into the sponge 28 to moisten the rim 38 to a predetermined depth. Next, the glass 36, still inverted, is placed over the spring 18 with the cap 20 attached thereto eventually making contact with the bottom 38- of the glass 36. As a force depicted by an arrow 40 is applied to the glass 36, the spring 18 is displaced producing an upwardly directed force opposite to the force 40. Under such conditions, I have found that an individual can more readily control the depth to which the rim 34 at all points of the glass 36 is made to enter the second recessed portion 16 and hence the granular material, namely salt in this case. When disposed in this depressed condition, the operator may also rotate the glass 36 to insure a more even distribution of salt on the rim 34.

Thus there has been shown and described a device for coating the moistened rim of a cocktail glass, tumbler, and the like with a uniform layer of sugar or salt. The device includes a base having a circular portion and an annular portion each recessed in the base and spaced apart from the other with the annular recessed portion forming a container for the sugar or salt. A layer of resilient absorbing material is disposed within the circular recessed portion for wetting the edge or rim with a preselected liquid, the circular recessed portion here forming a reservoir for the liquid. A spring is also provided and disposed within the annular portion and extends upwardly at right angles to the base for a distance greater than the height of the tumbler. The spring is attached to the base at the lower end and at the upper end is provided with a resilient cap for engaging the bottom of the tumbler when invertedly disposed over the spring, which, on being depressed, exerts an upwardly directed force against the cap to control the depth to which the rim enters the annular recessed portion in applying the uniform layer of sugar or salt. a

While I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departure may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and methods.

I claim:

1. A device for applying granular like materials uniformly adong the edge of a drinking glass comprising in combination:

base means including first and second recessed portions;

sponge means disposed in said first portion for moistening said edge when the glass is invertedly pressed against said sponge means;

and spring means including a cap covering the outer end thereof and attached at the other end to said base means at the center of said second recessed portion, the region within said second recessed portion extending radially outwardly from said spring means and forming a retainer for said granular like materials, said cap coacting with the bottom of said glass when said glass is invertedly extended over and pressed upon said spring means to facilitate control of the depth to which the glass is embedded in said materials for uniformly coating said moistened edge.

2. A device for uniformly coating the edge of stemmed glassware with salt comprising in combination:

a base having first and second spaced apart recessed portions;

moistening means including a sponge disposed in said first recessed portion for moistening said edge with citrus juices;

and spring means extending upwardly from said second recessed portion and attached thereat to said base, said spring means including a resilient cap covering the outer end thereof for engaging the bottom of said stemmed glassware whensaid glassware is invertedly disposed over said spring means, said second recessed portion and forming a container for receiving said salt, said spring means urging an upwardly directed force as said stemmed glassware is pressed invertedly against said cap to control the depth to which the moistened edge extends into said second recessed portion in applying said uniform layer of salt.

3. A device for coating the moistened rim of a tumbler with a uniform layer of sugar comprising, in combination:

a base having a circular portion and an annular portion each recessed in said base and spaced apart from the other, said annular recessed portion forming a container for said sugar;

a layer of resilient absorbing material disposed within said circular recessed portion for Wetting said rim with a preselected liquid, said circular recessed portion forming a reservoir for said liquid;

and spring means centrally disposed with respect to said annular portion and extending upwardly at right angles to said base for a distance greater than the height of said tumbler, said spring means including a resilient cap for engaging the bottom of said tumbler when invertedly disposed over said spring, said spring means exerting an upwardly directed force as said tumbler is pressed invertedly against said cap to control the depth to which said rim enters said annular recessed portion in applying'said uniform layer of sugar.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 531,398 12/1894 Strohecker et al. 1l826 2,525,164 10/1950 Ackles 118-30 3,209,796 10/1965 Siletti 118-3 15 X MORRIS KAPLAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR APPLING GRANULAR LIKE MATERIALS UNIFORMLY ADONG THE EDGE OF A DRINKING GLASS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: BASE MEANS INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND RECESSED PORTIONS; SPONGE MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID FIRST PORTION FOR MOISTENING SAID EDGE WHEN THE GLASS IS INVERTEDLY PRESSED AGAINST SAID SPONGE MEANS; AND SPRING MEANS INCLUDING A CAP COVERING THE OUTER END THEREOF AND ATTACHED AT THE OTHER END TO SAID BASE MEANS AT THE CENTER OF SAID SECOND RECESSED PORTION, THE REGION WITHIN SAID SECOND RECESSED PORTION EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARLDY FROM SAID SPRING MEANS AND FORMING A RETAINER FOR SAID GRANULAR LIKE MATERIALS, SAID CAP COACTING WITH THE BOTTOM OF SAID GLASS WHEN SAID GLASS IS INVERTEDLY EXTENDED OVER AND PRESSED UPON SAID SPRING MEANS TO FACILITATE CONTROL OF THE DEPTH TO WHICH THE GLASS IS EMBEDDED IN SAID MATERIALS FOR UNIFORMLY COATING SAID MOISTENED EDGE. 